The Grimm Brother's Cinderella and Ever After

Morals, values and experiences of humans across all contexts keep adaptations being built upon to reflect ideas of original texts. Social image and status within the Grimm Brother's tale Cinderella reflect society's values of the eighteenth century of which it was written. Appropriations of this text, Ever After directed by Andy Tennant, also include similar values to that of the original. Universal necessities under the human condition such as neglect and acceptance, reflected in the original tale, continue to be relevant to all societies and therefore are able to be adapted into new forms and plots. Sacrificial acts of characters allow responders to discover true natures of the individual who has undergone sacrifice within their lives. Elements of stories such as social value, sacrifice and inner rights to human needs allow original texts to be up cycled and adapted to suit different audiences and contexts.

Social position and status’ prominent value within the eighteenth century is expressed within Cinderella and also is evident within its modern appropriation, Ever After. Despite Ever After being directed after that of the Grimm Brothers and also set before the eighteenth century in the Renaissance period, contextual values are evident within this Desire and obsession of social acceptance is characterised by the father and mother of the Grimm's tale. Once Cinderella's birth-mother passes away, compulsion for higher status is evident from the persistent favouritism towards those able to gain the prince's hand. Oppression towards Cinderella by the step-mother restricted the opportunity for Cinderella to gain a higher status through royal marriage. The father willingly endangers Cinderella in the hope of one of his new daughters would succeed in higher class marriage. All three times when her father's attention was directed towards the place where the prince’s maiden had fled, he questioned, "Could it be Cinderella?" and then proceeded to destroy the area regardless. Deeds such as these reinforce the desire of higher images for the mother’s daughters not, however, of Cinderella. Social class’ significance is also portrayed within Ever After, an appropriation of the Grimm Brother’s Cinderella. Baroness Rodmilla de Ghent, alike the step-mother in the Grimm’s tale, favours her birth daughters and oppresses her who is not. Cunningness and commitment towards securing a position with the prince is prominent in both texts and Danielle, characterised as Cinderella, is physically restrained away from the possibility of gaining a higher social status than her two step-sisters. Danielle is just a “poor little country girl” while her daughters are of noble blood. Contrary to the original, once the prince discovers his maiden’s true social status, he is at first repulsed by her and forgets his love for her in an instant based on the label, “servant”. Rivalry for, and between, higher social positions reflect the desire, obsession and necessity of social structure and image for those of the eighteenth century as evident within Cinderella and its appropriation, Ever After.Neglect from family and society throughout Cinderella and Ever After reflect the need of acceptance, as a feature of the human condition, in all contexts. Both Danielle and Cinderella have been denied a mother figure who accepts her as a daughter. Personal doubt and conflictions faced inside are results of repression and rejection from these so called mother figures. “The sisters did her every imaginable injury—they mocked her and emptied her peas and lentils into the ashes, so that she was forced to sit and pick them out again.” Further hardships followed inflicted by siblings. Both main characters long for acceptance from the members of their family but as they will not receive it, they seek it elsewhere in the form of the prince’s ball. All members of different societies, cultures and times seek acceptance from those around them. This feature of the human condition allows pre twentieth century literature to still be relevant today and built upon in relation to the context.

Self-sacrifice, whether it is self guided or forced upon you, themes cycle throughout literary works composed in a pre twentieth and also films produced modern world, to discover the inner nature of personalities. Personal gain is one motif for sacrifice present within all societies and contexts. In Cinderella the two step-sisters physically sacrifice their heel or toe so that they could have a future of happiness with the prince. "Cut the toe off; when thou art Queen thou wilt have no more need to go on foot." The sisters were pressured into self mutilate on by their mother but it was their decision to continue deed. This sacrifice was both self guided and forced as the mother would have rebuked and punished her daughters for not taking the chance to improve their lives. Gruesome scenes such as this were removed in the appropriation to account for the form of film and also the romance seeking audience. True nature of the mother character was exposed as she was willing to inflict pain upon her offspring so that they, as well as herself, could live a greater life. Intentions were true but the actions were not. Cinderella and Danielle's sacrifice however, was forced. Having to sacrifice their desires, dreams and lives once their mother, and in the case of Danielle, and father passed away was the ultimate sacrifice. Free will was sacrificed to serve their new household and there was nothing to prevent this occurring. Further sacrifice continued when Danielle was sold to Pierre le Pieu where her freedom was physically removed through the symbolising of chains. Despite this major oppression, both Danielle and Cinderella stayed pure hearted and strong to reveal their true heroism. Throughout all time, whether it is history or fiction, self sacrifice is the ultimate test through which a hero or villain could be unveiled.

Literary works portray values and ideas common throughout all societies which allows its continuation in the relation with its responder. Different forms of literature, such as film or fairy tales, allow different audiences to relate to them while the messages stay universal. Ideas and values of society, acceptance and sacrifice are evident within the Grimm's tale of Cinderella. These same ideas have been built upon and adapted to better relate to a modern audience which still containing the same meanings within Andy Tennant's Ever After. Values relating to the experiences of being human and the human condition are able to be relevant to all audiences which is why literature up cycles.